Personal Responsibility
What is a PR point?
Personal responsibility is taking charge of one’s own learning and actions. It implies completing assignments on time and performing to the best of one’s ability. Personal responsibility recognizes the importance of parents and teachers as learning partners, but puts the student in charge.
PR Point Areas: Classroom misconduct, outside classroom misconduct, incomplete/late assignments, unprepared for class.
Each child begins the trimester with zero PR points.
A reward activity will be earned by not receiving 8 total PR points or 6 points in one area, per trimester. A suspension results in automatic disqualification. Students who do not receive too many PR Points each trimester, and meet their point and comprehension AR goals will get to participate in the trimester reward (ex. movie, roller skating, and inflatables).
Homework and Assessments
Homework Expectations:
Math Facts, Math, Language/Reading NIGHTLY
Cursive/Daily - due M-TH
Spelling Packet/Daily - due Friday
Recommended 20 minutes reading nightly
Students have time to work on these items during class but whatever they do not finish will need to be completed at home or during the after school program. Students will also be expected to read for 20 minutes each night if they need to catch up on their AR goal for the trimester.
To help students practice responsibility, they will be completing a planner Monday-Friday. Failure to complete the planner for multiple days may result in a PR Point. Missing or incomplete homework will result in a PR point. Each student starts the year with three oopsies that roll over to the next trimester if they do not use them. After those have been used, students will receive a PR point for each day they do not complete homework.
Assessments
All grading is based on assessments. Spelling, grammar, and ELA assessments are generally given on Fridays while math, science, and writing assessments may be given any day of the week.
Grades will be posted on Aeries within 2 weeks of the test being given. Paper tests will be sent home for signatures beginning after Parent - Teacher conferences. If you have any questions about their test, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Accelerated Reading (AR)
Purpose: To motivate and reward students for developing individual reading habits.
Each trimester students will take the STAR reading assessment. Using this assessment, they will be given an individual point goal based on their independent reading level. Everyday students will be given time in class to take quizzes on books they have read in school and at home. If a student falls behind the weekly goal, they will need to make up this time at home.
If a student reaches their point and comprehension goals by the end of the trimester, they will be eligible to attend the AR/PR reward trip as long as they have less than 8 PR points in total or 6 in one category.
Goals per Trimester:
First Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 70% or above .
Second Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 75% or above.
Third Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 80% or above.
AR Awards
Students that reach the trimester AR goal will receive a certificate in class and will be given recognition at the award assembly.
Students that reach their point and comprehension goals all three trimesters will receive a special award at the end of the school year.
Technology
Third grade will use technology on a daily basis as we have been lucky enough to receive one to one Chromebooks in our classrooms!
Throughout the school year, students will expand their knowledge of how technology can be used constructively in their daily lives. Students will create PowerPoint presentations, complete online research, and much more! This year we will also be focusing heavily on the importance of digital citizenship. Digital citizenship focuses on making smart choices such as staying safe and appropriate online, protecting private information, saying no to cyber bullying, and using technology for educational purposes only while at school. Misuse of technology will result in a PR point and loss of privileges.
Parent Volunteers
We would love to have you join us on our field trips this year! If you did not go through the new clearance process with Raptor last year, you will need to complete it in order to come with us. Please reach out to the office staff to learn more about the process.